COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS HAMPER CAMPAIGN: Pound for a Claus drums up funds for food…
Tag Archives: Quebec Community Christmas Hamper Campaign
Volunteer Susan Doucet (seen here during the 2022 campaign) makes sure there is enough of everything to fill the hundreds of boxes of groceries that will be delivered before Christmas. Other helpers in this photo are Andrew Ayre (left) and Jean- Sébastien Jolin-Gignac (in the background). (Photo by Shirley Nadeau) COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS HAMPER CAMPAIGN: Delivery Day countdown begins
COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS HAMPER CAMPAIGN: Delivery Day countdown begins
Submitted by Shirley Nadeau, organizing committee chairperson, Quebec Community Christmas Hamper Campaign
It is wonderful to see how community members come together each year to help those who struggle to put a meal on the table, especially during the holidays. The Community Christmas Hamper Campaign, now in its 28th year, is like a well-oiled machine, and barring snowstorms and pandemics, this organization is ready to roll for another D-Day (delivery day).
All the fresh food has been ordered from a local grocery store, sufficient volunteers are on standby to sort the donated food and pack the hundreds of boxes; and volunteer drivers are ready to roll to deliver the hampers (boxes) to recipients’ homes on Dec. 16. Members of the organizing committee have double-checked their lists to be sure they haven’t missed anyone during this season of giving.
Fundraising to purchase the food to fill the boxes is going very well, with more than 67 per cent of our $50,000 goal attained as of Dec. 10. We extend a huge Thank You! to everyone who has made a financial or in-kind donation thus far. We also thank all those who have donated dry goods and organized fundraising events.
If you have not yet contributed to this worthy cause to help members of the English-speaking community enjoy a festive meal during the holidays, it’s not too late. For information on how to help, visit the CCHC website at qchampers.ca.
William Provencher (centre), community life animator of wellness activities at Saint Brigid’s Home, and Saint Brigid’s Guild members Jennifer Hobbs-Robert (left), Yan Feng, Linda Boucher and Phyllis Savard sold a variety of handmade items at their table. (Photo by Anaïs Fortin-Maltais courtesy of CCHC) COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS HAMPER CAMPAIGN: Kildare Christmas Market raises funds for Hamper Campaign
COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS HAMPER CAMPAIGN: Kildare Christmas Market raises funds for Hamper Campaign
Submitted by Diane Kameen, Community Christmas Hamper Campaign organizing committee
Thanks to the participation of many kind and generous people, the Kildare Christmas Market held Nov. 4 at Saint Brigid’s Home raised $1,300 for the Quebec Community Christmas Hamper Campaign, with the tally sure to grow after the second edition held Dec. 5 (total unavailable at press time).
Sales of honey, jewelry, Guild clothing, blankets, recipes, decorations and much more proved very popular. The mar- ket was also a wonderful oppor- tunity for residents and their loved ones to socialize. This is one of the many fundraisers taking place in the community to support the campaign. To learn more, visit qchampers.ca and follow the Quebec City Community Christmas Hamper Campaign on Facebook.
Jean-Sébastien Jolin-Gignac is shown hard at work organizing boxes during last year’s Community Christmas Hamper Campaign in the gymnasium of the Eastern Québec Learning Centre, where all the boxes of groceries are assembled, numbered and filled with goodness for the festive season before being delivered to recipients. (Photo by Adrian Glanvill) COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS HAMPER CAMPAIGN: Our community comes together once again to turn caring into action
COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS HAMPER CAMPAIGN: Reflections on the Season of Giving
COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS HAMPER CAMPAIGN: Reflections on the Season of Giving
Submitted by Cindy Joyce Djamen, Quebec Community Christmas Hamper Campaign
Ho, Ho, Ho everyone! This is the most exciting time of the year, Christmas! I grew up in Cameroon. With great joy and anticipation, my family would decorate the house and prepare the menu and guest list in advance. Toys were not among our gifts. The simple acts of reuniting with our loved ones, playing games, laughing and eating our favourite meals together until 2 a.m. were enough.
The best aspect of that time of year was giving back to others. We would buy fresh food and donate it to orphanages. We also made sure not to forget to invite a Muslim friend or neighbour to join us in our home to celebrate the joy of the season. It was all about acceptance and love.
When I arrived at the Eastern Québec Learning Centre, I wasn’t sure what to expect. In my new role as reception, referral, counselling and support project development officer, I was invited to replace my predecessor on the Community Christmas Hamper Campaign organizing committee. In my experience so far, the campaign is wonderful. It is beautiful to see the various religious denominations, schools and community organizations uniting to help households in need.
I called a woman who received a hamper last year to tell her she was eligible to receive one again this Christmas. She told me, “I am in a better place this year. Mentally, I feel good, and although I am not rich, I would like to volunteer instead of receiving this year.” I also had the opportunity to offer a hamper to a father of five children who is back at school full-time. He told me, “Times are not easy right now money-wise, but we can eat properly, so I would rather volunteer to help others who are in greater need.” It was heartwarming to hear.
For details about how you can contribute, visit qchampers.ca, email give@qchampers.ca or call Hamper Headquarters at 418-684-5333, ext. 11835. Follow the Quebec City Community Christmas Hamper Campaign Facebook page to see how the community is supporting this initiative.
I am very glad to be part of this community initiative and to witness honesty, compassion, and understanding for Christmas. I wish you a beautiful Christmas, full of hope.
Members of the Community Christmas Hamper Campaign organizing committee take a moment out of a busy meeting to pose for this hybrid group photo. On the screen are: Ellie Fleming (Jeffery Hale Partners), Jean-Sebastien Jolin-Gignac (Jeffery Hale Partners), Julie Le Floch (Saint Brigid’s Home), Raphaëlle Verge (Saint Brigid’s), Nancy Boulanger
(Jeffery Hale Community Services), Melissa Wan (Voice of English-speaking Québec), Anthony Arata (Morrin Centre), Andrée Lemieux (St. Patrick’s Church), Brigitte Wellens (Voice of English-speaking Québec) and Laurence Allard (South Shore English Network). In person are Elise Holloway (Jeffery Hale Partners), Rev. Katherine Burgess (St. Andrew’s Church), Anne Martineau (St. Michael’s Church), Sylvie Piché (Eastern Quebec Learning Centre), Nectaria Skokos (Jeffery Hale Partners), Shirley Nadeau (Chalmers-Wesley Church), Amy Vallières Brennan (EQLC) and Susan Doucet. Others not in the photo: Vincent Laliberté (Central Québec School Board), Marlene Fortin (Saint Brigid’s), Hugh Fraser (Fraser Recovery Program), Jacques Gaines (CEGEP Champlain – St. Lawrence), Lindsay Jarjour (Quebec Baptist Church), Chantal Lafrenière (Fraser Recovery Program), Darla Sloan (Église St-Pierre), Duncan Smith, Ed Sweeney (CQSB) and Derek White. (Photo by Jean-Sébastien Jolin-Gignac) COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS HAMPER CAMPAIGN: Help deliver some goodness this holiday season
COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS HAMPER CAMPAIGN: Help deliver some goodness this holiday season!
Submitted by the Community Christmas Hamper Campaign
The 27th annual Community Christmas Hamper Campaign is now underway! Please help us deliver some goodness to those in need by contributing to this wonderful community initiative before Dec. 17 in the following ways:
∙ Donate: Our annual objective of $50,000 will cover added expenses due to inflation and the pandemic, such as our obligation once again to purchase all of the food in the hampers (both fresh and non-perishable). Please mail in your cheque or donate online using our easy and secure online donation form at qchampers.ca.
∙ Volunteer: We need volunteers to help pack and deliver the hampers. Please visit our website to learn more.
For details about how you can contribute, please visit qchampers.ca, send an email to give@qchampers.ca or call Hamper Headquarters at 418- 684-5333, ext. 11835. Follow the Quebec City Community Christmas Hamper Campaign Facebook page and share your giving story there.
About the Campaign
Since 1995, the Community Christmas Hamper Campaign has been delivering goodness to more than 200 homes in the greater Quebec City region at Christmas time. The organizing committee of this huge annual initiative is composed of representatives from 18 organizations from the local English-speaking community. Heartfelt thanks to you – our donors, volunteers and numerous partners – for your unwavering devotion to this act of kindness toward those in need.
The members of the organizing committee would like to express their profound sadness on the recent passing of Bill Donnelly, a hamper volunteer extraordinaire and an all-around wonderful person who supported the campaign in immeasurable ways over the years.
Fondly known as “the box man,” Bill collaborated with Emballages L.P. Aubut every year to find the perfect boxes in which to pack the groceries that are delivered to families and individual recipients – not too big, not too small, but just right! Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this difficult time.
